To not understand the benefit system . What is going on ?

[Westnsouthnabout]

I have got totally out of touch with the benefits system.. used to work in public services so did used to be in direct contact with a variety of social issues.
Am aware that sudden breakages like washing machines to be paid for, delays in initial payment and sanctioning can mean a sudden and catastrophic change in cash flow.
However, I have been reading that food banks are utterly stretched and in crisis.
I do understand that many people end up in emeegency sitiations, however, have also been reading that some are actually reliant on regular food banks . Sort of like a weekly shop..
I totally accept that I am out of touch with current situations and would like to kmow( seperate to current rising cost of living etc which i know about) .. what is going on re why so many people are relying on them as a regular source of food when they are in reciept of a regular and mostly preductable income( apart from sanctions etc as i said) in the form of benefits.
I am aware I am ignorant amd want to understand more and perhaps contribute.

I'm on benefits. I got paid yesterday.
After paying for

Rent, gas, electric, water rates, TV licence, my phone (not the latest model), my Internet, shopping, my debt management plan, the budgeting advance that I got from UC and then what I owe my mum I'm left with £50.

To last me almost 3 weeks until I get my pip. Luckily I've already bought everything we need for the next few weeks, but I can definitely see how an unexpected expense, like travel to hospital (which with my disabilities is a semi regular thing, hence owing my mum money. I had to borrow it to get ti hospital) or a vet bill could tip me into needing a food bank.

@user1471447863 that's complete bullshit. You need a voucher to get one from a professional like social worker, health visitor or GP. You can't just turn up.

If you don't know what your talking about just save yourself the embarrassment and shut up in future.

@splittinkitten he's always bragging on social media about it. My point is the benefit system is messed up if perfectly fit to work people are getting 'paid' more that I am for doing a full time job. I can't believe no one sees that.

@Myusernameisnotmyusernameno the benefit system is messed up... because people aren't paid enough to live on. Not because the claimants all have huge TVs and the latest smartphones etc

Yes but why not make sure genuine claimants are given what they need. Not pass it on to people who can't be arsed to get a job.

[quote Myusernameisnotmyusernameno]@splittinkitten he's always bragging on social media about it. My point is the benefit system is messed up if perfectly fit to work people are getting 'paid' more that I am for doing a full time job. I can't believe no one sees that. [/quote]
You know you need a ton of medical evidence to get something like PIP right? They don't award people for no reason. He may look fine to look at but disabilities aren't always visible as for the bragging, your clearly jealous nobody in the right mind would brag.

Because they aren't enough to live on. It's really not that difficult to understand.

I've posted before about a disabled friend who gets just over £400. Her mortgage is £800. She has been waiting a year for an assessment for the disabled element. Even then thats without any bills or food.

This is why people kill themselves.

@Willyoujustbequiet

Because they aren't enough to live on. It's really not that difficult to understand.

I've posted before about a disabled friend who gets just over £400. Her mortgage is £800. She has been waiting a year for an assessment for the disabled element. Even then thats without any bills or food.

This is why people kill themselves.

See that is genuine and I don't think that is right at all. I saw my dad threaten to do the same after he found himself unable to work and having to claim benefits when I was a child.

Don't forget that UC have an amount that they deem you can live on (which yes hasn't risen by inflation for a decade it was frozen)..

and then they can deduct 30% (yes you read that right!!) of the money someone is supposed to live on, for debt repayments and the loan for the 5 week wait.

That's why.

All those bleating on about people on benefits living the life of luxury on benefits - that's only a very very small percentage and certain specific circumstances. Most people really struggle.

UC can frequently be as low as £266 a MONTH for a single adult jobseeker. Could you live on that??!! To cover Food, gas and elec, some council tax, internet, probably have to top up your own rent, toiletries, haircuts, clothes, travel costs.

That's why foodbanks exist. And they shouldn't have to. All those donating to foodbanks should be writing to their MPs about why the hell they should have to exist in the first place!!

@Myusernameisnotmyusernameno

I know someone who gets 2k a month because he's deemed as unfit to work yet plays drums in a band and always has massive tv and latest computer games.

Amazing how so many people know 'someone' like this. Must be hundreds of them around....

@Myusernameisnotmyusernameno So he has a huge tv, plays computer games and drums, but can’t be bothered to raise a pet goat?
I can see why you are so annoyed.

I'd forgotten about the goat !!

Hi

I am on benefits at the moment. And if I didn't have debts I think I'd be ok on it.

I was made homeless and jobless in 2019 and had to go into private housing. Private rent is extortionate and I had to top up £300 every month so that pushed me further into debt.

Now I'm in council housing. I get UC after I pay everything I am left with very little which I use to pay of the debt I incurred whilst private renting. It's about 2k at the moment.

In my new flat I have a mattress, microwave and a fridge. As I can't afford to have it furnished.

UC is enough if you have affordable housing. If your settled and don't need to buy anything.

I don't know how some people would have enough to buy large screen TVs

Benefits are just there for people to survive not to enjoy. I am so grateful to it.

[quote TrickOrTreat21x]@user1471447863 that's complete bullshit. You need a voucher to get one from a professional like social worker, health visitor or GP. You can't just turn up.

If you don't know what your talking about just save yourself the embarrassment and shut up in future.[/quote]
Wrong, there are plenty that require no referral. Relevant section from website of one.
Don't be too embarrassed about being wrong now

Are you having a laugh OP? Got nothing better to do.today?

If you wanted an answer visit Shelter, Joseph Rowntree Foundation etc etc. Get your spreadsheet out and do the maths.

You just wanted to start a bunfight.

@desimo

Hi

I am on benefits at the moment. And if I didn't have debts I think I'd be ok on it.

I was made homeless and jobless in 2019 and had to go into private housing. Private rent is extortionate and I had to top up £300 every month so that pushed me further into debt.

Now I'm in council housing. I get UC after I pay everything I am left with very little which I use to pay of the debt I incurred whilst private renting. It's about 2k at the moment.

In my new flat I have a mattress, microwave and a fridge. As I can't afford to have it furnished.

UC is enough if you have affordable housing. If your settled and don't need to buy anything.

I don't know how some people would have enough to buy large screen TVs

Benefits are just there for people to survive not to enjoy. I am so grateful to it.

Have you tried Facebook and local mutual aid groups? You may be lucky getting bed frame and other furniture. Especially when these days have pay get rid of old stuff when getting new. I see loads there in my area, long as happy for any table chairs, bed frame usually something going free.

You know what you've made me feel better as he must be lying about how much he gets then

Benefits are just there for people to survive not to enjoy. I am so grateful to it.
Completely true. I wish you well x

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@Myusernameisnotmyusernameno So he has a huge tv, plays computer games and drums, but can’t be bothered to raise a pet goat?
I can see why you are so annoyed.[/quote]
Not sure what the pet goat is but sounds interesting

TrickOrTreat21x
@user1471447863 that's complete bullshit. You need a voucher to get one from a professional like social worker, health visitor or GP. You can't just turn up.

I run a food bank where you can just turn up. We’re not that unusual.

What everyone else said, basically. I’ll add that we get a lot of our stock from supermarkets (things unsold/ about to go off) including fresh produce, meat, dairy, treats - so the people we support, hundreds each week, get a better quality and variety of food than they could otherwise afford.

Bold/quote fail, sorry.

I remember the days when people frothed about benefit claimants with flat screen TVs - I'm guessing it's only changed to big screen TVs because you can't really get non flat screen ones any more

I'd also like to hear more about the goat please

I get universal credit and work 30 hours. Not rich but able to pay bills, put fuel in car, food on the table, cough up for birthday gifts etc. I have no sky, I pay £1 a week PAYG mobile, I buy my clothes from ebay type stuff. I know people who earn similar and they are always skint/ in debt but buy takeaways, go to the pub, highlights, acyrlic nails, nice phones, holidays etc. Some people on benefits are genuinely skint and need more help but there's also lots that don't seem to be able to budget.

@SpittinKitten that's quite a good and valid point actually